Point of control remote-actuation apparatus and methods

ABSTRACT

Controlling a switch or valve at a distance is achieved by a support member having a movable portion, with the moveable portion including an elongate member, and a drive mechanism in communication with the moveable portion. A motor, hand crank, or other force transmission apparatus acts to move the drive mechanism and thus the movable portion and elongate member such that a valve or switch is actuated at a distance from a user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for remote operation ofpotentially hazardous equipment, such as electrical switches. Moreparticularly, the disclosure provides apparatus and methods for thecontrolling equipment through remote actuation of a mechanical link,while distancing a human operator from a potential hazard.

2. Background

It is well understood that industrial equipment includes points ofcontrol such as valves and switches that manage very large andpotentially dangerous amounts of energy or materials. The vast majorityof such control points are operated safely. However, there are somesituations, e.g., equipment malfunction, use of equipment outside ofrated specifications, or equipment misuse, which can lead to hazardoussituations such as explosions, toxic material release, and the like.

For example, in the power distribution industry, personnel who work onor near energized electrical equipment can be seriously injured orkilled as a result of arcing faults. An arcing fault is the flow ofcurrent through the air between phase conductors and neutral or groundand can result in a tremendous release of energy in the form ofextremely high temperatures and pressures along with shrapnel hurlingthrough the air at high velocity. For this reason, when repair work orperiodic maintenance needs to be accomplished, the circuit breakers aretripped (opened) and moved out of conductive contact with the primaryand secondary disconnects and removed from the switchgear cell. Somecircuit breaker switches are rotated with a “hot stick” (insulated rod)while others are operated by hooking the end of a hot stick into a ringconnected to a movable contact and pulling or pushing on the ring toopen or close the contacts respectively. More generally, controlmechanisms broadly fall into two categories: rotary operation and linearoperation. Thus, it is desirable to provide improved apparatus andmethods for actuating valves and/or switches at a distance from a usersuch that improved safety results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure herein relates to apparatus and methods for actuatingpoints of control, such as valves and switches, at a distance.Controlling a switch or valve at a distance is achieved by an elongatemember coupled with a support member having a movable portion and adrive mechanism in communication with the moveable portion. A motor orother way of providing motive force (e.g., hand crank) acts to move thedrive mechanism and thus the movable portion and elongate member suchthat a valve or switch is actuated at a distance from a user.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages will become betterunderstood upon consideration of the following detailed description,drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, exploded representation of the embodiment in FIG.1 without the engagement sections and elongated member

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the first embodiment positionedfor vertical actuation of a point of control.

FIG. 4 is an elevated perspective view of the first embodimentpositioned on a surface for horizontal actuation of a point of control.

FIG. 5 is an elevated perspective view of a second embodiment thatutilizes linear movement of an elongated member.

FIG. 6 is elevated perspective view of a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a point of control, e.g., switchor valve, controlling apparatus 2 is depicted. The apparatus 2 includesa support member 4 having a movable portion 6, with the moveable portionbeing coupled with an elongate member 10 (as through a holder 8), withthe elongate member being engaged along a length portion such that theelongate member and movable portion are not in axial alignment. Theelongate member 10 is not limited to a particular shape or configurationand may be, for example, a rod, plank, or I-beam adapted to engage apoint of control at a distance. A drive mechanism 12 in communicationwith the moveable portion 6 is adapted to move the moveable portion 6and holder 8 in response to a motive force.

In this embodiment, the movable portion 6 of the support member 4 isplanar and has the holder 8 (e.g., a clamp or splined area) centrallydisposed therein. The apparatus 2 may further include a motor 14 adaptedto engage the drive mechanism 12 or the motor may be connected to thedrive mechanism by a user prior to use of apparatus 2. Also, the drivemechanism 12 preferably is offset from the movable portion 6 such thatthe drive mechanism and movable portion are not in axial alignment(e.g., they are side-by-side to each other as shown in FIG. 1). This hasbeen found to provide better torque in some applications where rotaryforce is needed to move the elongate member such that a switch or valveare actuated.

In electrical switch contexts, the elongate member 10 is an electricallyinsulated rod (e.g. a “hot stick”) and the holder 8 may be a clamp.Moreover, where the switch is a vault switch, the support member 4further includes one or more engagement section(s) 16 adapted forpositioning the support member on a surface, such as a section of flooror ground (see FIG. 4). While multiple engagement sections forming atripod-like structure are shown in this embodiment, many otherstructures are possible, such as a pole or sheet of rigid material.Preferably, the engagement sections include securing members such aspointed ends 18.

The motor and drive mechanism of the apparatus are not intended to belimited to a particular type or a type of motion. Thus, for example, themotor and drive mechanism may cooperate to actuate the movable sectioneither linearly (see FIG. 5) (e.g., extension and retraction) orrotatably. Moreover, manual structures for actuating the drive meansalso may be used, such as a hand crank (not shown).

Turning to FIG. 2, an exploded and enlarged view of the support member4, movable portion 6 (e.g., a slewing ring), and select other componentsof the first embodiment is shown. FIG. 3 shows a partially exploded viewof the first embodiment positioned for vertical actuation of a point ofcontrol, such as a vault switch V. Alternatively, FIG. 4 is an elevatedperspective view of the first embodiment positioned on a surface 20 forhorizontal actuation of a point of control. Thus, the support member mayinclude one or more movable engagement members being adaptable toposition the apparatus on a surface in at least two orientations.

In a second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus forremote-actuation is reconfigured to provide linear actuation. Theapparatus 100 has a support member 102 which also serves as the mountingpoint for the system controls. Element 104 is a moveable clamp to securethe elongate member 10. Drive mechanism 106 (which includes a motor) isa linear actuator which provides the motive force to push or pull theelongate member as required. Strap or “tie-down” 108 allows a user toconnect between provided mounting points 110 on the support member 102and suitable points on the point of control or its support structure(not shown). This “tie-down” 108 provides the necessary reaction forceto allow for the mechanism to operate the point of control. Incircumstances where it is not possible or desirable to rely on“tie-down” 108, provisions have been made in the in the shape of thefoot (securing member 112) of the engagement means 120 to allow the useof commonly available ballast weights such as sand bags (not shown).

In a third embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, yet another remote-actuatingapparatus is illustrated. The apparatus 200 has planer support member220 including a rotatable portion 240, with the rotatable portion 240further including a clamp 260 adapted to engage an elongate member 280.A drive mechanism 300 in communication with the rotatable portion 240 isadapted to rotate the rotatable portion 240 and clamp 260 in response toa motive force.

As with the first embodiment, the apparatus 200 may include a motor 320adapted to engage the drive mechanism 300 (or the motor may be connectedby a user). The actuation of the rotatable portion 240 and clamp 260through the motor 320 may be remotely controllable by a wired orwireless controller known in the art. Furthermore, the drive mechanism300 may be offset from the clamp such that the drive mechanism and clampare not in axial alignment when rotation of the elongate member 280 isdesired. Also, the support member 220 may further include engagementsections such as tabs 400 adapted for mounting the support member on asurface such as planks or bars 410.

In some embodiments, the drive mechanism and/or moveable portion areremovably coupled to the support member, thereby allowing for simplicityof repair, etc. Moreover, some embodiments further include a loadmeasurement indicator 500 that indicates torque versus rotationalposition as a proxy for operation status.

From the description and figures provided herewith, methods foroperating a point of control at a distance with a remote-actuationapparatus are readily apparent. In one method embodiment, wherein theremote-actuation apparatus includes an elongate member coupled with amovable portion of a support member and the support member has a drivemechanism, the method includes actuating the drive mechanism such thatsaid movable portion moves the elongate member and thereby operates thepoint of control at a distance.

Preferably, the elongate member is coupled to the moveable member alonga length portion of the elongate member such that said elongate memberand moveable portion are not in axial alignment, thereby providinggreater torque in some applications.

In another method for operating a point of control at a distance, a usercouples an elongate member with a movable portion of a support member,with the support member having a drive mechanism; and then the useractuates the drive mechanism such that the movable portion moves theelongate member and thereby operates said point of control.

As will be apparent from the description above, the embodiments may beused in methods for operating a switch or valve at a distance. Thus, amethod may include the steps of coupling an elongate member, which isheld by a support member with a drive mechanism and a motor, to a switchor valve and activating the motor such that said elongate member movesthe switch or valve to a desired position.

The above description and examples are not intended to limit theinvention, with is defined by the claims and equivalents thereto.

1. A point of control remote-actuation apparatus, comprising: anelongate member having a first end and second end, a support memberhaving a movable portion, said moveable portion being adjustably coupledwith said elongate member along any portion of a length of said elongatemember such that said first end and said second end of the elongatemember are free of contact with said point of control remote-actuationapparatus during an actuation operation; and a drive mechanism incommunication with said moveable portion, said drive mechanismconfigured to move the moveable portion and elongate member in responseto a motive force.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drivemechanism is removably coupled to said support member.
 3. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein said movable portion is removably coupled to saidsupport member.
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said elongate member is an electrically insulated rod.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, further including a motor adapted to operate saiddrive mechanism.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drivemechanism is offset from the movable portion such that the drivemechanism and movable portion are not in axial alignment.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said movable portion further includes aclamp that engages said elongate member.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said support member further includes at least two engagementsections that are positionable.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid movable portion comprises a slewing ring.
 12. A point of controlremote-actuation apparatus, comprising: a support member having arotatable portion, said rotatable portion including a holder configuredto engage an elongate member along any portion of a length of saidelongate member and such that a first end and a second end of theelongate member are free of contact with said point of controlremote-actuation apparatus; and a drive mechanism in communication withsaid rotatable portion, said drive mechanism adapted to rotate saidrotatable portion and holder in response to a motive force, wherein saiddrive mechanism is offset from the holder such that the drive mechanismand holder are not in axial alignment.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The apparatusof claim 12, wherein said drive mechanism is removably coupled to saidsupport member.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said movableportion is removably coupled to said support member.
 16. (canceled) 17.(canceled)
 18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said elongate memberis an electrically insulated rod.
 19. The apparatus of claim 12, furtherincluding a motor adapted to operate said drive mechanism.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein said movable portion further includes aclamp that engages said elongate member.
 21. The apparatus of claim 12,wherein said support member further includes at least two engagementsections that are positionable.
 22. The apparatus of claim 12, whereinsaid movable portion comprises a slewing ring.
 23. A method foroperating a point of control at a distance with a remote-actuationapparatus, said apparatus including an elongate member coupled with amovable portion of a support member along any portion of a length ofsaid elongate member and such that a first end and a second end of theelongate member are free of contact with said remote-actuationapparatus, with said support member having a drive mechanism, comprisingthe step of: actuating said drive mechanism such that said movableportion moves said elongate member and thereby operates said point ofcontrol at a distance.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said elongatemember is an electrically insulated rod.
 25. (canceled)
 26. The methodof claim 23, wherein said elongate member is coupled to the moveablemember along a length portion of said elongate member such that saidelongate member and moveable portion are not in axial alignment. 27.(canceled)
 28. (canceled)